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Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi All.

Putting together a reference level system.
My Source is predominantly standard 16/44 played from a MacMini using iTunes and Amarra. Some of my music is purchased from iTunes and the rest is ripped from standard CD's.
For my tastes in music, my high def catalogues are still limited; so Redbook 16/44 will be my primary source for quite some time.

I'm not spending DCS or MSB money. But $15-20k retail is not out of the question.

Upsampling vs non-upsampling?
USB input vs SPDIF?

All opinions welcome.

And I know I need to hear them, but getting these ultra $$$ DAC's into your house for an audition ain't easy.

Looking for musical, emotional, engaging, accurate , with great dimension. Not looking for analytical and sterile.
mattnshilp
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Thanks for sharing mark. 
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
to add to the $30 dac post . Now that you bring up how your $30 dac makes all recordings sound good reminds me of a Apoggee dac i had that was also a studio recorder as well as volume control . That thing played all music i threw at it with equal frequencies being delivered . Makes me think audiophile dacs are merely additional tone controls . Juice the frequencies that make "hifi" music and recordings sound a smidge tilted for the wow factor ?
markolino72
9 posts
 
sure some dacs are better than this little thing! but i think for less than 1000-500$ you can find a excellent dac, DON’T BUY THOSE RIDICOULOUSLY PRICED DACS(with allmost Nothing Inside) , to stop and force the industry stolling you! Go Pro Audio


markolino72
9 posts
 
the uca 202 INSTANTANLY immerses me in music like no other expensive dac can do!
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Mark, this thread is about state of the art. Who are you, or anyone to tell folks how to spend their money?  You have no idea what is inside top DAC's and how much they cost to produce.  Please top trolling this thread as it's a long running thread and we'd been able to keep things on track for hte most part.  Thanks.
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